Journal article
The impact of international economic sanctions on Iranian cancer healthcare
Health policy (Amsterdam), Vol.119(10), pp.1309-1318
10/2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.08.012
PMID: 26344426
Abstract
•We examine international sanctions on Iran and their effect on cancer healthcare.•Sanctions have drastically decreased availability of cancer medicines and treatment.•Iran's cancer control program shows substantial deficits in most aspects of care.•A modern approach to diplomacy is necessary to protect vulnerable populations.
In 2012, Iranian's economy collapsed under strain from sanctions instituted to stop Iran from violating the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Sanctions have indirectly led to serious healthcare concerns, specifically cancer treatment. This is the first report to evaluate Iranian cancer healthcare while under international economic sanctions.
Data and information were identified by searches of MEDLINE, PubMed, and references from relevant articles using the search terms: “Iran”, “health policy”, “sanctions”, “ethics”, and “cancer”. Articles published in the English language between 1966 and present were included, based on relevance to sanctions or the specific case of sanctions in Iran.
The Program of Action for Cancer Therapy evaluated Iran's National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), reporting it has substantial deficits, including prevention, diagnosis/treatment, palliative care, monitoring, and technology, with a serious drug shortage for cancer care. Sanctions have exemptions for medicines and food, but lead to disruption of health services through complications in transportation, transferring currencies or lack of money.
There is increasing evidence that sanctions harm vulnerable populations, while blocking globalization and not creating political or social change quickly. Improvement of Iran's NCCP is not feasible, and the health of cancer patients will continue to decline while the sanctions are in effect. The solution is complex, but a modern and innovative approach to diplomacy, which includes human rights, is necessary.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The impact of international economic sanctions on Iranian cancer healthcare
- Creators
- Shohreh Shahabi - Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USAHooman Fazlalizadeh - Danbury HospitalJennifer Stedman - Danbury HospitalLinus Chuang - Mount Sinai HospitalAhmad Shariftabrizi - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkRegina Ram - Seton Hall University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health policy (Amsterdam), Vol.119(10), pp.1309-1318
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ireland Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.08.012
- PMID
- 26344426
- ISSN
- 0168-8510
- eISSN
- 1872-6054
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2015
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984318724102771
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